Indianapolis – March 14, 2025. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rely on the assistance of local law enforcement agencies to help identify and remove illegal migrants suspected of violent acts. Given that ICE is overtaxed, these partnerships have become even more of a necessity. A new federal bill called the 287(g) Program Protection Act (H.R. 756) would strengthen these alliances and make them more readily available to police agencies across the country. This bill, endorsed by the National Police Association (NPA), was introduced by Rep. Michael Cloud (TX-27) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill’s text is here.
The 287(g) program -named for Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)- is a product of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. This voluntary program allows local law enforcement agencies to enter into working agreements with ICE and receive dedicated training. The program has unfortunately been underutilized. Just 135 of approximately 18,000 state and local law enforcement agencies currently participate in the program, and no new agreements have been generated since 2021.
The 287(g) Program Protection Act would amend the INA to strengthen this crucial program, ensure that it’s working as intended, and make it widely available to law enforcement agencies across the country.
This bill seeks to do the following:
- Require ICE to approve new agreements with state and local police agencies within 90 days of application. The agency would be required to notify Congress when it issues a denial.
- Prohibit the federal government from canceling current agreements with state and local police agencies unless a solid reason is provided. Agencies would be given an opportunity to challenge the decision.
- Mandate the Department of Homeland Security to publish annual reports describing the program’s progress.
- Design a plan to recruit police agencies for participation in the program.
- Provide funding to help local law enforcement agencies train officers and enforce the program.
“Americans overwhelmingly support the removal of dangerous illegal migrants from our streets. It is an effort that requires collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies,” said Paula Fitzsimmons, Legislative Director, National Police Association. “The 287(g) Program Protection Act would facilitate this endeavor by making improvements to this vital program and expanding its use,” Fitzsimmons added.
The NPA extends its gratitude to Rep. Cloud for introducing the 287(g) Program Protection Act. We have confidence that if this bill is passed, it would foster greater cooperation between ICE and local law enforcement agencies, which will ultimately aid in keeping our communities safe. We urge members of Congress to prioritize the welfare of the American people by supporting this bill.
The National Police Association is a nonprofit organization that supports law enforcement through advocacy, education, and litigation. For additional information visit NationalPolice.org
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